OT – commands prepended with “please”

[Cube]

I think “please” could be construed as shorthand for “if you please”, as in “Sign this form and mail it back to me if you please.” It gives the person receiving the request the illusion of some sort of option to decline, which perhaps makes it more polite.

At work, I regularly issue requests to people who do not report to me and whose relationship to me in the management hierarchy is unclear (contractors who work for a firm for whom I also do contract work). I regularly issue “please” commands hoping that they will comply, and hoping that I don’t sound to presumptive in issuing the command.

When issued between distinctly unequal parties (i.e., my bank to me, or me to my daughter), it may have become a form of wrote courtesy which has lost all sincere meaning.

P.S. “To complete this form, please complete the word verification below.” [emphasis added] Rich, if you have a minute, can you “please” put me on the capcha-free list? Come to think of it, I think I’m going to make scare quotes a regular part of my “pleases”.

[CAwireman]

Rich,

Couple things, where does “Please” come from. It comes from the overall correction/over-correction that organizations have been pushed into. Examples are where companys perform an internal survey and the staff all complain about people who “Don’t say Please”, or more accurately, complain about every little trivial thing imaginable. HR gets the results, and suddenly becomes the inquisition. They sit with all manner of employee, staff and manager and suddenly, like what might happen after giving loaded hand guns to everyone, people begin to be overly nice and respectful of each other, to a consistent and sickening degree. I’ve seen this phenomenon at a number of companies I’ve worked with and, wouldnt’ you know it, I have become a “Please” guy. It does take the edge off. But, sometimes you have to reinforce that it is just a courtesy word and the underlying intent is more of an ulitmatum, (fill out the form, or I can’t start your loan Refi, or register you to vote, etc. )

People who don’t realize it to be a demand wrapped in a pretty bow (as opposed to a request)can be unfamiliar with US business communications, rebellious and looking for conflict, logical and unwilling to waste time with unnecessary nicities, and so forth.

So yes, I think you are wrong on this one.

While I would rather that we weren’t so keenly politically correct and fearful of pushing someone ever so slightly out of their comfort zone, that is what I have seen the business world devolove into.

My wife is from Europe and she is in disbelief about how we are here in the US. When she and her family speak together, they let it all hang out, to a much greater degree than I do with my family.

To put is bluntly, its a castrating conversational practice that is meant to keep people who need others to do something from getting into trouble.

That’s my 2 cents buddy! “Please” give it some thought. 😉

Oh, and what about those people who say nasty things and just follow it up with a smiley?

[CAwireman]

Rich,

Couple things, where does “Please” come from. It comes from the overall correction/over-correction that organizations have been pushed into. Examples are where companys perform an internal survey and the staff all complain about people who “Don’t say Please”, or more accurately, complain about every little trivial thing imaginable. HR gets the results, and suddenly becomes the inquisition. They sit with all manner of employee, staff and manager and suddenly, like what might happen after giving loaded hand guns to everyone, people begin to be overly nice and respectful of each other, to a consistent and sickening degree. I’ve seen this phenomenon at a number of companies I’ve worked with and, wouldnt’ you know it, I have become a “Please” guy. It does take the edge off. But, sometimes you have to reinforce that it is just a courtesy word and the underlying intent is more of an ulitmatum, (fill out the form, or I can’t start your loan Refi, or register you to vote, etc. )

People who don’t realize it to be a demand wrapped in a pretty bow (as opposed to a request)can be unfamiliar with US business communications, rebellious and looking for conflict, logical and unwilling to waste time with unnecessary nicities, and so forth.

So yes, I think you are wrong on this one.

While I would rather that we weren’t so keenly politically correct and fearful of pushing someone ever so slightly out of their comfort zone, that is what I have seen the business world devolove into.

My wife is from Europe and she is in disbelief about how we are here in the US. When she and her family speak together, they let it all hang out, to a much greater degree than I do with my family.

To put is bluntly, its a castrating conversational practice that is meant to keep people who need others to do something from getting into trouble.

That’s my 2 cents buddy! “Please” give it some thought. 😉

Oh, and what about those people who say nasty things and just follow it up with a smiley?

[CAwireman]

Rich,

Couple things, where does “Please” come from. It comes from the overall correction/over-correction that organizations have been pushed into. Examples are where companys perform an internal survey and the staff all complain about people who “Don’t say Please”, or more accurately, complain about every little trivial thing imaginable. HR gets the results, and suddenly becomes the inquisition. They sit with all manner of employee, staff and manager and suddenly, like what might happen after giving loaded hand guns to everyone, people begin to be overly nice and respectful of each other, to a consistent and sickening degree. I’ve seen this phenomenon at a number of companies I’ve worked with and, wouldnt’ you know it, I have become a “Please” guy. It does take the edge off. But, sometimes you have to reinforce that it is just a courtesy word and the underlying intent is more of an ulitmatum, (fill out the form, or I can’t start your loan Refi, or register you to vote, etc. )

People who don’t realize it to be a demand wrapped in a pretty bow (as opposed to a request)can be unfamiliar with US business communications, rebellious and looking for conflict, logical and unwilling to waste time with unnecessary nicities, and so forth.

So yes, I think you are wrong on this one.

While I would rather that we weren’t so keenly politically correct and fearful of pushing someone ever so slightly out of their comfort zone, that is what I have seen the business world devolove into.

My wife is from Europe and she is in disbelief about how we are here in the US. When she and her family speak together, they let it all hang out, to a much greater degree than I do with my family.

To put is bluntly, its a castrating conversational practice that is meant to keep people who need others to do something from getting into trouble.

That’s my 2 cents buddy! “Please” give it some thought. 😉

Oh, and what about those people who say nasty things and just follow it up with a smiley?

[CAwireman]

Rich,

Couple things, where does “Please” come from. It comes from the overall correction/over-correction that organizations have been pushed into. Examples are where companys perform an internal survey and the staff all complain about people who “Don’t say Please”, or more accurately, complain about every little trivial thing imaginable. HR gets the results, and suddenly becomes the inquisition. They sit with all manner of employee, staff and manager and suddenly, like what might happen after giving loaded hand guns to everyone, people begin to be overly nice and respectful of each other, to a consistent and sickening degree. I’ve seen this phenomenon at a number of companies I’ve worked with and, wouldnt’ you know it, I have become a “Please” guy. It does take the edge off. But, sometimes you have to reinforce that it is just a courtesy word and the underlying intent is more of an ulitmatum, (fill out the form, or I can’t start your loan Refi, or register you to vote, etc. )

People who don’t realize it to be a demand wrapped in a pretty bow (as opposed to a request)can be unfamiliar with US business communications, rebellious and looking for conflict, logical and unwilling to waste time with unnecessary nicities, and so forth.

So yes, I think you are wrong on this one.

While I would rather that we weren’t so keenly politically correct and fearful of pushing someone ever so slightly out of their comfort zone, that is what I have seen the business world devolove into.

My wife is from Europe and she is in disbelief about how we are here in the US. When she and her family speak together, they let it all hang out, to a much greater degree than I do with my family.

To put is bluntly, its a castrating conversational practice that is meant to keep people who need others to do something from getting into trouble.

That’s my 2 cents buddy! “Please” give it some thought. 😉

Oh, and what about those people who say nasty things and just follow it up with a smiley?

[CAwireman]

Rich,

Couple things, where does “Please” come from. It comes from the overall correction/over-correction that organizations have been pushed into. Examples are where companys perform an internal survey and the staff all complain about people who “Don’t say Please”, or more accurately, complain about every little trivial thing imaginable. HR gets the results, and suddenly becomes the inquisition. They sit with all manner of employee, staff and manager and suddenly, like what might happen after giving loaded hand guns to everyone, people begin to be overly nice and respectful of each other, to a consistent and sickening degree. I’ve seen this phenomenon at a number of companies I’ve worked with and, wouldnt’ you know it, I have become a “Please” guy. It does take the edge off. But, sometimes you have to reinforce that it is just a courtesy word and the underlying intent is more of an ulitmatum, (fill out the form, or I can’t start your loan Refi, or register you to vote, etc. )

People who don’t realize it to be a demand wrapped in a pretty bow (as opposed to a request)can be unfamiliar with US business communications, rebellious and looking for conflict, logical and unwilling to waste time with unnecessary nicities, and so forth.

So yes, I think you are wrong on this one.

While I would rather that we weren’t so keenly politically correct and fearful of pushing someone ever so slightly out of their comfort zone, that is what I have seen the business world devolove into.

My wife is from Europe and she is in disbelief about how we are here in the US. When she and her family speak together, they let it all hang out, to a much greater degree than I do with my family.

To put is bluntly, its a castrating conversational practice that is meant to keep people who need others to do something from getting into trouble.

That’s my 2 cents buddy! “Please” give it some thought. 😉

Oh, and what about those people who say nasty things and just follow it up with a smiley?

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=Cube]Rich, if you have a minute, can you “please” put me on the capcha-free list? [/quote]

It is done…

Thanks all for the insights.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=Cube]Rich, if you have a minute, can you “please” put me on the capcha-free list? [/quote]

It is done…

Thanks all for the insights.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=Cube]Rich, if you have a minute, can you “please” put me on the capcha-free list? [/quote]

It is done…

Thanks all for the insights.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=Cube]Rich, if you have a minute, can you “please” put me on the capcha-free list? [/quote]

It is done…

Thanks all for the insights.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=Cube]Rich, if you have a minute, can you “please” put me on the capcha-free list? [/quote]

It is done…

Thanks all for the insights.

[scaredyclassic]

Now that i think about it, it used to crack me up inside to say things like “May It Please The Court…” and “Your Honor”, but now, it just comes oout like nothing, doesn’t make me feel goofy even a bit. I guess it’s all social context and what’s expected. Also, saying “thank you, your honor” to the judge after a ruling in which you just got seriously fucked. Kinda reminds me of “please sir, may i have another” after getting a beating….

[scaredyclassic]

Now that i think about it, it used to crack me up inside to say things like “May It Please The Court…” and “Your Honor”, but now, it just comes oout like nothing, doesn’t make me feel goofy even a bit. I guess it’s all social context and what’s expected. Also, saying “thank you, your honor” to the judge after a ruling in which you just got seriously fucked. Kinda reminds me of “please sir, may i have another” after getting a beating….

[scaredyclassic]

Now that i think about it, it used to crack me up inside to say things like “May It Please The Court…” and “Your Honor”, but now, it just comes oout like nothing, doesn’t make me feel goofy even a bit. I guess it’s all social context and what’s expected. Also, saying “thank you, your honor” to the judge after a ruling in which you just got seriously fucked. Kinda reminds me of “please sir, may i have another” after getting a beating….

[scaredyclassic]

Now that i think about it, it used to crack me up inside to say things like “May It Please The Court…” and “Your Honor”, but now, it just comes oout like nothing, doesn’t make me feel goofy even a bit. I guess it’s all social context and what’s expected. Also, saying “thank you, your honor” to the judge after a ruling in which you just got seriously fucked. Kinda reminds me of “please sir, may i have another” after getting a beating….

[Author]

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